How to Turn Your Hobby Into a Home Business

Have you ever wondered… “can I make money with this hobby of mine?” “Are my skills worth anything in the business market?”

The answer is “YES!” Yes to everyone, and each person–because you all have something unique and special to offer. You might even offer the same product as someone else, but do it in a different way. Listen, the opportunity truly is endless for those who are willing to be authentic and work hard.

Since I was 13, I have had a business of some kind. It started out as a piano studio, turned into fitness training, and is continually growing and changing. There are MANY many ways to do business. My goal with this article is to inspire you into your particular gifting so you can also flourish where you’re planted.

How to Turn Your Hobby into a Home Business (in no particular order)

Build a Website

I think having a website is pretty much a must in today’s business culture. Even if you don’t sell things there because you have a service based business, people will still want to go there to check you out, and see what it is you offer. Just plan on having something website wise for potential clients. Personally, I’ve built my business 99% online, so my website is basically my retail shop. It has to work, it has to be easy to use, and it has to be easily found. I can’t rank low on Google, I can’t afford to not be seen. There are ways to make your website ideal for being found–beyond the scope of this article—but keep in mind that you’ll need to learn these things if you go 100% online.

Serve People with an Email List

If you do build and online business, and email list is an absolute must. In fact, if you don’t have an email list, you don’t have a business. And let me emphasize the fact that “serving people” is the main point. That means you’ll be writing articles (like this one) that appeal to a unique, focused, narrow group of individuals. They are called your “ideal clients” and you’ll need to figure who this is!

If you decide to build a business mostly online, before you do anything else, you must start building your email list. You can do this many ways!

Share part of mini digital product with people free (in exchange for their email).

Collect names & emails at events.

Guest post for other similar bloggers.

Find and be part of an online summit.

Once you begin building this list, you are going to SERVE them by continuing to provide articles and content for them at least once per week!

Foster a Culture of Social Media

Sometimes people think that building a social media following trumps everything else…they feel like if they have a lot of followers, they are “somebody” and have a viable business. I don’t want to burst anyone’s bubble, but having a bunch of followers on social media pretty much means diddly squat. At the time of this writing, I have over 40,000 people following me on Facebook alone, and sometimes like 150 people see my posts if that’s the mood Facebook is in that day.

That said, building a culture on Social Media is important, and helpful to your business. Building a CULTURE, not a following. That means your posts are posts that people want to see–they hunger to see in fact–they come to Facebook and scroll their feed just to see what you’re gonna say because it:

a) gives a solution to their problems.

b) lifts their spirit.

c) makes them think deeply.

d) inspires them.

That’s pretty much it. If they like you, they will want to do business with you…but honestly, that usually comes through the higher connection of face to face, or via an email list.

Teach Classes via Webinar or Host an Event

Get in front of people! Sometimes your business isn’t a class based business–but you can get in local fairs, bazaars, shows, video feeds on social media, webinars, etc… People love to connect with you face to face in some way.